The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-13
THE PRIVATE CALENDAR.


Citizens TO Whom 1t Owes Money.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Feb 12-The rules of the
House set apart Friday of each week for the
consideration of bills on the private calendar
but this rule accomplshes very little as the pri-
vate calendar is the object of attack of every
member who is anxious to secure consideration
for some measure in which ne is more directly
interested than he is in the claims which so
many people have against the government. The
private calendar is the object of universal sneers
from The press, and men who come to Congress
with claims are looked upon as frauds to be
avoided But Congress is the only court to
which appeals for justice can be made by those
who have been defrauded of their rights by the
government. and yet there is less justice dealt
out in the halls of Congress than in the most
corrupt municipal court in the world There
are accounts unsettled between the United
States and individuals. in which the United
States is the debtor, which have been running
almost since the time the government was or
ganized. These unsettled accounts are from
millions down to very insignificant sums, but
they are all treated alike. There is in fact, one
bill which has been constantly introduced in
every Congress since the first; its merit is indls-
putabe; time after time one house or the other
has passed upon it and still final action is lack
| ing. The cost of printing the papers in this case
would probably go long way toward liaIdat-
ing the Indebtedness of the government. But
Congress would rather spend million in delay
ing settlement than thousand in bringing
one about Constant efforts have been made to
secure some general legislation ~shch shall re-
leve Congress from The necessity of examining
into and passing upon the merits of these private
claims. If competent jurisdiction should be
given to some court the saving of the govern
ment would be enormous and the relief of the
pressure on the legislative branch would in itself
be compensation enough, even if every claim
flied should be decided in favor of the claimant.
An instance Of the injustice OF the United
States to its creditors is seen In the case of Mr.
Ginesi. This gentleman was an Italian officer
on the staff OF GaribalGi. who met young Amer
| lean girl in Europe, back in the sixties, wooed,
| won and married her. He resigned his commits
sion and emisrated to the United States. He
| took up his residence in Savannah Ca, just at
| the close OF the war. Here he represented his
| father-in-law, who was merchant in New York.
| having large Southern interests. Ginesi con-
| cluded to go into business for himself, and with
this idea, directed his representatives in Italy to
! dispose of his estate. With the proceeds he pur-
chased $4,000 worth of champagne, claret,
| brandy, olives and such goods. and ordered
| them shipped to Savannah. They were sent via
| New York, and were placed in the bonded ware
house and there kept for six months before
Ginesi was notified to pay the duty upon them
or to withdraw them for export He at once
| wrote Collector Arthur that the destination of
/ his goods was Savannah and not New York,
and requested that they be shipped to their last
| destination. which was done. On the arrival OF
/! the goods in Savannah they we're reeaueed and
| found to contain 40 gallons less brandy out OF
twenty casks than the gauge 10 New York called
for. OF the consignment Of the eiares forty-ons